CZ105694A3 - Collapsible closing container - Google Patents

Abstract

A semi-rigid container (1) is shown in figure 1 with a folding portion (7) consisting of a plurality of diamond shaped panels (112) forming a frustoconical shape. The panels (112) are arced relative to the interconnecting frustoconical substrate (111) in the transverse and longitudinal directions so that while the panels (112) resist expansion from internal container pressure they are able to expand transversely to enable folding of the folding portion (7) under a longitudinal collapsing force and to resist expansion from the collapsed state. Other shapes of the panels (112) are also described.

Description

The present invention relates to packages, in particular reinforced collapsible, sealable packages. The invention relates significantly, but not exclusively, to the use of containers for the storage of gas-saturated solutions and the like.

The term semi-reinforced wrapper refers to a wrapper of material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that will not be deformed or stretched by its contents, as is the case with a flexible wrapper, although the wrapper of the invention has some flexibility as opposed to a rigid wrapper. The term semi-reinforced is used throughout this patent application, including the claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas-saturated solutions such as carbonated beverages and the like are typically stored under pressure in airtight containers or the like in order to keep these liquids in a gas-saturated state or at least to limit the extent of gas leakage from the liquid, whether carbon dioxide or other gas.

When the package is opened, the gases tend to escape from the fluid. The leakage process may be slowed to some extent by resealing the package. However, after reclosing, there is an enlarged upper space into which the gas can escape.

If this upper space can be small even when the volume of the beverage or other liquid is reduced, the extent of leakage or other loss of gas from the solution can be limited, as is well known. To this end, a number of collapsible packages have been developed. Some of these collapsible packaging ♦

are bellows-type packaging. Such packages have a number of disadvantages.

First, these containers do not function as pressure vessels, leaving a state of loss of oxygen saturation from the fluids that cannot be used to store carbonated soft drinks before selling them. If such a container is filled with a carbonated non-alcoholic beverage, then the internal pressures exerted on the saturated liquid will stretch its wall after the cap is tightened. The package expands to inflated to form a large upper space causing saturation with carbon dioxide. This could occur even with slight movement and it would not be expected that the package could withstand the harsh conditions of transport and the handling methods of packaging containing non-alcoholic beverages when leaving the filling operation.

Secondly, the ability of the bellows-like packs to expand and fold causes the seam to become susceptible to further stretching upon partial folding of the shape of the pack and reclosing, and consequently to the carbon dioxide forces of the forces creating an upper space, especially when the pack is dropped or otherwise shaken. This significantly harms the intended purpose.

Although some bellows-type packages show improvements, they do not completely eliminate the problems mentioned. In addition, they must be manufactured with relatively strict tolerances and are extremely uncomfortable to use.

U.S. Patent No. 4,790,361 to Jones et al. Has attempted to overcome the problem of inflatability prior to the need for composition, i.e., after the package has been filled. Unfortunately, this can never be achieved in the case of bellows-type containers without the necessary shape being applied.

such a clamping device such that the package would be filled, resulting in an external device holding, which would have to incur additional costs to the package. While it could partially resist stretching beyond, it would still not withstand very high pressures in shaken carbonated soft drinks.

If such an inflation occurred, the shape of the package would initially be according to Jones et al. stretch *

resulting in irreparable damage to the polymer.

In this context, this type of packaging cannot practically be made of topical polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic materials. Similarly, due to the large surface area of such a package, there would be increased material consumption costs. This type of sealable package would also be susceptible to inflation from an already collapsed state.

The ripples applied by Jones et al. are defined by a number of ridges and grooves, each riddle comprising planar areas designated by quadrilaterals and acting as a hinge for the folding process.

US Patent No. 4,492,313 (Touzani) also does not typically function as the original pressure vessel. Therefore, it cannot also be used for the purpose of storing soft drinks before selling them. Indeed, craving has advanced to overcome the problem of re-expandable inflation from a partially collapsed state. However, the way in which Touzani achieves this presents another problem. The packaging is folded in a way that can be called in sections and expels the contents' by a sharp rise, which may not correspond to the free upper space. This sectional folding method also causes the contents to be ejected. In addition, the container handler may apply excessive pressure after tightening the threaded plug (by folding the rings down), resulting in some leakage of contents upon subsequent release of the plug.

781, 103 (Trust cover for viscous equipped with axial ripples to move context

No. 4,365,211 (

294186 (Metal

In the United Kingdom patent application international patents), closable materials are materials such as side wall toothpaste. The pressures on the base allow them to face inwardly of the wall as it is folded in as material is consumed. Hollingworth), Dutch Box), US Patent 4,456,134 (Cooper) and French Patents 2294297 (Normos) and 623181 (Liesse) disclose various other collapsible containers that use organ or other types wall-folding construction. However, these containers are not suitable for soft drinks.

The containers of U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,211 and British Patent No. 781,103 are particularly unsuitable because they are more easily subjected to internal pressure which, after filling, may inflate them as a result of the effect of the corrugations or openwork they are provided with.

These packages could easily be re-expanded from the collapsed state, especially if they are constructed of a resilient material. The United Kingdom patent 781,103 is particularly prone to re-stretching. Each of these packages is folded at the periphery of a circular shape as best translated in Figure 8 of U.S. Patent No. 4,865,211. In Dutch Patent 294186 and British Patent 781,103, a specific focus is made on folding or resting on a wall on a non-folded circular wall before it is folded. The walls of these containers are made of a resilient material such as polyethylene. In the case of British patent 781,103, the content is not a liquid but a viscous material. In this way, the walls under the area of application of the folding forces are supported in the sense that the material resists this movement. This assists the resilience of the elastic walls against buckling under the influence of folding forces.

Other collapsible containers comprise an aliquot portion of the flexible bag that is collapsible to limit the emerging upper space. While simple bags overlapping collapsible containers can be filled with liquids such as still wine, they cannot be filled with pressurized liquids such as sparkling wine. This is due to the fact that a single bag has, due to its characteristics, a given tendency to re-inflate after folding if there is pressure within such a package. Therefore, improvements of this type of collapsible package focus on requiring special control means such as an outer package, a sleeve or the like to control folding and keep the collapsed package in a collapsed state. The external control means could entail a substantial increase in costs, which must always be taken into account in the case of such a bag.

*

Examples of such sealable o-bales are described in the aforementioned patents of Cooper and Normos.

With respect to PET-based or other plastic-based packaging, various other possible solutions have been proposed where one of the most popular patents of the New Petaloid Base by Continental according to the present is at this time in Zealand 227274 (

Technologies, Inc. ).

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the invention to overcome the above-mentioned problems in a novel way or at least to offer the public a useful choice.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semi-reinforced sealable package having a side wall having an overhanging folded portion provided with a plurality of panel means, each of which means being arcuate at least transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the package. said side wall being provided so that said panel means act together to resist the stretching of said composite part of a composite shape, but with the possibility of folding said composite part under the influence of a longitudinal folding force to gradually fold it into the rest of said package in in connection with the reduction of its internal volume.

Other features of the invention will be elucidated in the following description.

Overview of the drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Giant. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the example of this *

invention.

Giant. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the assembly of FIG. 1 under partial folding conditions.

Giant. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the assembly of FIG. 1 under full composition conditions.

Giant. 4 is a schematic cross-section taken along line X-X in FIG. 1. Giant. 5 is a detail of the overhang of the assembly of another example of the invention.

Giant. 6 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of another example of the present invention.

Giant. 7 is a schematic side view of an assembly of yet another example of the present invention.

Giant. 8 is a schematic front view of a panel according to the present invention.

Giant. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the rear side of the panel shown in FIG. 8.

Giant. 10 is a schematic side view of the panel shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Giant. 11 is a schematic side view of a folding control portion of an example of the present invention.

Giant. 12 Yippee transverse cross-section taken by straight lines J-J on giant. 11. Giant. 13 Yippee transverse cross-section taken by straight lines I-I on giant. 11. Giant. 14 Yippee schematic side view of another possible build

according to the invention.

Giant. 15a, 15b and 15c show yet another embodiment of the invention in its original, partially folded and fully folded state.

Giant. 16 shows a schematic yet another embodiment of the invention.

Giant. 17 and 18 show schematically possible configurations of the base of containers according to the present invention.

Giant. 19a and 19b show possible alternative panel configurations for further assembly according to the invention.

Giant. 20a, 20b and 20c show schematically the effect of sagging or inverting the cylindrical casing.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary assemblies shown in the drawings and the following description in relation to these drawings, where this section is carried out by way of example only, are by no means a limitation of possible modifications of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a semi-reinforced closable package. Packaging 1. is a generally elongated soft drink bottle. It has an opening 2 at one end, and is threaded 3 for repeated sealing using a screw cap (not shown). In this case, the wrapper 1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although any other suitable material may be used provided it has semi-extensible properties.

The side wall 4 of the package 1 comprises a bending portion (5. In this example, the bending portion is defined between the dashed lines A and B.

Referring to FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 3, it will be seen how the bending portion 5 of the side wall 4 of the package 1 gradually folds by bending due to the folding force guided longitudinally and respectively inside the package 1, specifically in this case pointing along the longitudinal axis 9. in the direction 9, whereby the dimension of the outwardly open recess 10 increases as the inner volume of the container 1 decreases.

As the folding operation proceeds, the folding portion 5 of the package is also moved down to a position in the storage portion 12, which in this case is provided with a peripheral portion 13 and a base 14.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the folding operation will be assessed in more detail. The bending portion 5 of this example comprises an activation portion 6 and a control portion 7.

The actuation portion 6 of this example is designed to include alternating areas of weakness and gain, and is relatively more prone to folding under the action of forces in the direction 9 than the adjacent control portion 7 and the neck portion 11. Thus, the appropriately controlled stay of the actuation portion 6 appears. to cause the folding operation already explained as a result of the action of the folding force in direction 9.

In this example according to the invention, the alternating zones of amplification and attenuation in the activation part 6 are provided with two adjacent transversely arranged circular sections of the side wall. The lines of weakness are defined in the joints of adjacent circular sections. The lines of attenuation may be by varying the angle in part 6 rather than reducing the thickness of the material by grinding or the like.

The control portion 7 in this case is provided with a number of generally elongated polygonal panels 112, each having four diamond-forming sides. The panels 112 are individually arranged to be directed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the package, and are positioned adjacent to each other to provide the side wall 4 generally with a frustoconical shape.

This overall truncated cone shape helps the bending portion 5 of the side wall 4 to fold into position in the storage portion 12, as will now be explained. However, other shapes, such as cylinders and polygons, may be provided to provide similar purpose panel means to the bending portion 5, such as those designated by reference 112. However, such shapes would affect the space into which the bending portion 5 can be stored, and they would require appropriate adjustments to the bearing designed for their folding. With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, it is noted that, disregarding the edge 100 at the periphery of the depressions 10 resulting from the formation of a bending roll into the package, the circumference of the bending sections of the bending portion 5 is smaller than the diameter of the sections they will only bend. Accordingly, there is space to accommodate the bent portions in the storage portion 12 after they have been purposefully folded.

Reference to FIG. 20 further illustrates this point. If the side wall 500 of the package has a generally cylindrical shape, as seen, as opposed to a truncated cone shape, then attempting to fold the package in this manner would result in an inwardly dropped circle formed from an upper wall 499 having a diameter H (see FIG. 20b). would have to be smaller than its diameter G (see Fig. 20a). This would cause an axial tension that would prevent the slide. There would be no space in the cylinder into which the wall 500 could be folded while maintaining the original diameter G. There would be a related transmission of force down the side walls in the L direction instead of inward folding and this would lead to the corrugation of the cylindrical wall 500 as shown in 20b, by the action of the folding force in the P direction as opposed to the inward drop. The only way to force the cylinder to behave in this way would be to keep it in the outer frame or to shape and force it by means of a plunger piston device which would thus be stuffed into the cylinder. However, the embossed section would still curl considerably due to its inability to accept a reduced diameter (the circumference of a given length must always be deformed in connection with the reduction in diameter).

Alternatively, it must be torn or stretched as shown by reference 498 in connection with an increase in diameter when folding, for example, as in Fig. 20c, and likewise an external device would have to be used to affect such behavior.

Therefore, in order to develop such a package which will merely consist of a force guided longitudinally and without the aid of an additional external device, the foldable section in the absence of the panels of the present invention must have a frustoconical shape or material must be reasonably resilient and capable of extensibility and contraction so he couldn't keep the original dimensions in the new position.

Without such an actuating portion as shown in FIG. 1, even for a truncated cone section, it would be difficult to prove that it can be folded by a controlled drop, especially in the case of an inclined position and a reasonable length of the side wall. As a result, the side wall would not be able to withstand the forces of the highest load and the package would simply deform and irregularly collapse. The force required to initiate a sag at any point of the inclined walls would be considerably greater than the force causing deformation and corrugation of the walls. If a portion of the wall begins to curl, then the same curl continues on the rest of the package as a result of downward pressure.

Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as can be appreciated, the person operating the package will exert a folding force in the direction 9 and will actually control the folding force only generally in the direction of the arrow 9. There will be variations in the direction of the force applied. These deviations of the folding forces, if not balanced or otherwise reduced, cause irregular folding and folding of the bending portion 5, especially when folding very quickly. Irregular folding will result in creasing and undulating of the sidewall 4 rather than a gradual folding process, which should occur as a desired effect of the folding forces.

The panels 112 of the bending portion 5 are applied to allow the package to be folded in a predetermined and relatively regular manner.

The panels 112 of the control portion 11 assist in regular folding and reduce the susceptibility of the sidewall to squeezing and crimping due to the effect of the folding forces. The way this process proceeds is much more readable when analyzing Figures 4 and 5.

The panels 112 of the control portion 7 are shown in a generally domed shape as seen in the end section. An example of this domed shape can be seen in Fig. 4, showing a cross-section along line XX in Fig. 1. If the panels receive a domed shape as shown with reference to the panel 112 in Fig. 4, a control function performed by panels 112 during folding.

In the position shown in FIG. 4, the panel 112 has yet to be folded. The panel 112 is separated from adjacent panels by the baffle means 90 and 101, which in this example are shown as relatively narrow non-arcuate sections of the side wall 4 forming the truncated cone substrate network 111 shown in Fig. 1. The chord formed between baffle means 90 and 101 is shown by dashed line 23.

During folding of the wrapper, as the side wall 4 will gradually fold inward, the panel 112 will deform by straightening and thereby lose its domed shape. As shown in the drawings, this shape will be chordless. This means that it will be generally similar to the shape of the chord 23.

Since the length of the arc of the panel 112 (the length of the camber of the panel 112) is greater than the length of the chord 23 (the length of the chord 23), the folding will cause a slight increase in the circumference of the depression formed during the folding process. The length of the chord between the means of the baffles 90 and 101 on each side of the panel 112 will increase to a maximum length equal to the length of the arc of the panel 112. As the folding continues, the sequentially folded panel 112 will typically return to a generally domed shape before straightening and folding.

An enlargement of the perimeter can be seen in Fig. 5, which shows how the perimeter of the recess formed by the side wall 4 and its rim 100 tilts from its normal position corresponding to the overall line of the outside of the package indicated by the dashed line 24. down. The force is transmitted radially in order to increase the circumference of the side wall and is therefore not transmitted down the side wall, which in this case would lead to its undulation. This enlargement of the circumference of the side wall provides space for the truncated cone side wall sections so that they can drop overhanging and assume a position within the side wall that is not yet folded. This location feature of the truncated cone section with said panels 112 offers a much lesser waveform resistance formed at the perimeter 100 of the recess 10 that progresses down the side wall as shown in Figure 5.

In addition, by forming a network of panels 112 of the side wall 4 of the package according to the present invention, said side wall 4 is divided and composed in sections with a predetermined chord length. Therefore, the circumference of the fold forms a polygonal pattern, which is defined by joining chords formed during folding (see Figure 4). The polygon you create will have a different number of sides, depending on the number of panels applied and the number of arches they contain. Therefore, the circumference of the fold section (reference 100 in FIG. 2) will not be circular, as can be ascertained in the prior art patents cited in the art.

above. The polygonal arrangement aids in guiding the folded sections together and together with the undulation creates a latching effect, which is further supported by re-forming the domed panels that have spread across the chord and the other side. This latching effect prevents the folded parts from returning to the unfolded position, even under high internal pressure conditions. The corners of the polygon pattern are relatively close to the non-folded side wall region. In the case of domed panels 112, the length of the side of the polygon during folding will be within the length of the chord if measured between the sides of the arc before folding and the arc length of the panel 112, as shown in Figure 4.

By controlling the length of the chord of the folded side wall sections, the susceptibility to wrinkling and curling is reduced, which could occur during folding. The panels 112 utilize the compensating effect of the fold 100 as it moves down the package, and thus there is a tendency to correct any erroneous deviations from the folding direction of the package caused by the person handling the package.

The diamond-shaped domed panels 112 shown in this example of the invention support and control the folding operation of the control portion 7.

The baffle network 90, 101, which extends between the domes of the diamond shapes of the panels 112 forming the bonded substrate 111, provides the control portion 7 with the strength to resist any stretching, even when subjected to double axial pressure. If the container is used to store gas-saturated beverages or the like, the simple elongate control panel panels used in previously known types of containers could cause the walls to become elastic, which could result in inflation due to pressure in the contained liquid. This could create an upper space with a consequent loss of carbon dioxide saturation.

The web of baffles 90, 101 interconnecting the diamond-shaped panels 112 is stretched in both directions after the cap is screwed onto the package and internal pressure is applied. The web of baffles 90 and 101 rests on a true truncated cone-shaped substrate or substrate. That is, the shape, dimensions and / or depth of the interconnection net or substrate 111 between the panels may be varied in relation to the desired properties of the resulting package. The force applied to the diamond-shaped panel 112 attempts to induce movement in both directions. However, since this force is the same in each direction, the diamond shape cannot change. Since each panel 112 has a fixed size, the control portion 11 cannot be enlarged.

However, there is no force in any direction when the plug is removed. This means that if the plug is unscrewed, the person handling the package can, for example, apply pressure in the direction of

9 shown in FIG. 1 (the package is folded down). Because the force is directed in only one direction, the diamond shape of the panels 112 may be forced to remain at rest on the vertical and allow the domed panels 112 to begin to affect the circumference by supplying otherwise excess material. In this sense, the circumferential enlargement of the fold 100 is achieved as well as the fold control in the manner already explained.

The panels 112 also exert a further decisive influence on the behavior of the sealable package and used as a collapsible package for pressurized fluids. Moreover, the downward section of the control portion is protected from being forced to return to its original position. The folded curvature of the diamond-shaped panels 112 in the downward position increases again and tends to block when a force trying to expand the package even from its collapsed shape is exerted. The pressure increase could be caused, for example, by the drop of the casing. The sagging section cannot be folded back, but tends to hold in place by performing a bow function that has been folded. This allows the package to maintain its integrity as a pressure vessel, even in a partially collapsed state.

In practice, polygons with a variable number of sides can be used in the folded section. They can also have combined shapes, although there would be no particular advantage over a diamond-shaped panel network. Polygons with more or less sides could apply different arching solutions. They could also be *

other geometric shapes are applied without departing from the scope of the invention.

The number of cams applied to the panels could also be varied depending on the extent of the specified chord assembly control, which affects the stacking balance. If the basic requirement is a curvature in the transverse or hoop direction, in most cases a curvature also exists in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to FIG. 19a, it will be appreciated that the folding section 600 of the wrapper of one of the possible assemblies is delimited by a number of triangular panels 601 that are arched such that the apex of the arches is at their centers. In Fig. 19b, the fold section 602 of another assembly is provided with circular panels 603 which are also arched such that the apex of the arch is located at their center.

Returning now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, we will see that the base 14 is formed to form a cavity 28. The cavity 28 is formed with respect to those portions of the neck 11 that adjoin the bending portion 5, so that, when the wrapper 1 is completely collapsed and the fold 100 on the side wall is more or less the largest dimension, the cavity 28 is completely surrounded by a portion of the neck 11.

In this sense, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the edge 29 of the neck portion 11 in this example defines an area that is at least equal to or preferably larger in plan view than the area delimited by the edge 30 of the cavity 28. And in the shown folded position 29 circumferentially spaced outwardly of the rim 3.0 so as to assist the flow of the fluid contained in the cavity 28 into the neck 11 and to the opening 2 during folding rather than to the fold on the side wall 4.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an alternative configuration of the bending portion can be seen. In Fig. 6, the bending portion 15 is provided with an activation portion 16 and a control portion 17. The control portion 17 in this case comprises hexagonal panels 22.

The activation portion 16 is also shown in an embodiment with hexagonal panels 22. The panels 22 that make up the activation portion 16 may be smaller or larger than the panels forming the control portion 17, if desired, and may be *.

aligned in relation to the location of the panels of the control part 17.

In the case of beverages that are not saturated with carbon dioxide, and especially in the case of any hot filling requirements, it may be important to apply a solution that allows a certain amount of shrinkage after filling. By altering the arrangement of the panel interconnecting panel, which is generally referred to by reference 599 (reference 111 in Figure 1), it is possible to avoid the ability of the control part to control the pressure (which would not be necessary for beverages without carbonation) in exchange for shrinkage.

This could be achieved, for example, by removing the transverse interconnecting sections 598 from the baffle network and allowing the vaulting of each hexagonal panel 22 to extend in the longitudinal direction. Again, many variations could be applied without departing from the scope of the invention. All formations would fold in the form of a polygon, as already shown.

This removal or alteration of the transverse or other interconnecting sections between the panels 22 could be utilized in any embodiment of the invention described herein.

It will be understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, other suitable arrangements will be employed for the purpose of activating and controlling folding on the bending portion. For example, in at least one further embodiment of the invention that is provided with panels, the individual panels may extend over the control portion and the activation portion substantially across the entire folding portion of the package. An example of this type is shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 7, a sealable container 200 comprising a neck section 201 can be seen. The bending portion 202 located between the lines G and H and the receiving portion 203.

The immediate contact area of the neck 201 and the bending portion 202 is provided with a recess 204 to assist in handling the package 200.

The bending portion 202 is provided with an activation portion 205 and a control portion 206. The storage portion 203 includes a peripheral portion 207 and a base 208.

As can be seen, the bending portion 202 comprises a plurality of diamond-shaped panels 209 that are domed at least in a transverse direction, all of the panels being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the package 202 and positioned side by side to form the folding portion 202 substantially substantially truncated cone shape.

In this example of the invention, the panels 199 have different functions in the region of the neck 201 and in the storage portion 203. These panels 199 are not involved in folding, but in turn impart strength to the neck 201 and the insertion portion 203 and promote the resistance of said portions of the package to crimping or other deformation due to axially directed folding forces. There is only a slight camber at the neck 201 and the storage portion 203 compared to the camber panels 209.

Other alternative configurations of the present invention may employ small domed panels around depressions 204. These panels may assist in resisting said depression to plastic extrusion under very high pressure, since this region is not usually as strong as the other regions of the package due to the nature of the dual axial orientation in manufacture. . Also other methods can be applied to strengthen the depressions 204 without going beyond the scope of the invention, such as adding a solid outer retaining ring made of a suitable material to be placed around the depressions 204.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved base portion of a closable beverage container.

During production using dual axial orientation, the orientation of the polymer molecules is smaller at the top and bottom of the bottle, and therefore these regions need to be made thicker, but the usual rounded base shape minimizes material requirements (for better storage capability) pressure). A bottle having this rounded solution, however, could not stand upright and therefore the need requires a base type "cup" having a flat bottom. This can be made by injection molding of PET or more commonly used high density polypropylene.

In the United States in particular, considerable attention has been paid to the design of a base that would not use a separate bowl, and in this context Continental Beverage Containers Inc. has designed a base having 4 to 5 punching forming legs on which the bottle can stand. This design is referred to as a petaloid base, the drawbacks of which are that more material is required, and melt blowing machines require higher pressures during application and shaping.

The following drawback is the different material thickness in many areas around the base. The result of these thickness differences is the whole complex of the stressed networks.

In addition, the drawback is that the unstretched central region having a greater thickness becomes the primary bursting point under pressure, and therefore this region is the most common failure site of the bottle. This is due to the fact that the intense pressure acts by expanding the surface in an external direction.

A further drawback of this method of structural design of the base is that the package cannot stand upright in a stable position on the surface of the type of grate that is most common in refrigeration units. This discourages both traders and customers.

The object of the embodiment of the present invention is to overcome some of the above drawbacks or at least to provide a suitable choice.

Referring again to Fig. 7, it will be appreciated that the base 208 of this example is shaped to form a cavity 211 substantially similar to that already described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to promote collection and removal. In order for the base 208 to withstand the internal pressures of beverages typically saturated with the respective gas, if the packaging is formed mainly of PET or the like, a relatively deep inlet bottom is used, the term " inlet bottom " especially in the case of a champagne bottle.

The base 208 of this example provides an improvement over the previous solutions in that, unlike the feet (as in the case of a petaloid base), it applies a thick circumferential ring on which the ring allows the larger bottle to rest. This fully adjacent stability when the bottle is placed on an incomplete surface, such as conventional grates in refrigeration units.

Giant. Figures 8 to 13 show enlarged details of examples of diamond-shaped panels 209 as shown in Figure 7. It can be seen that panels 301, 302, 303 can be designed to form a tapered composite panel 300 at one end. the view of FIG. 9 and the cross-section of FIG. 10 show that the panels 301 and 303 are arched in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, controlling the above-described folding. In Figures 11 to 13, diamond-shaped control panel panels 305 are shown. These panels 305 are domed to form a truncated cone portion of the assembly as required for the sequential folding procedure.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the invention, which is referred to as an arrowhead as a whole. This assembly differs from previous assemblies in that the diamond-shaped panels are replaced by a number of hexagonal panels 475 forming the bending portion 472. The activation portion 476 is provided with a number of concentric weakening lines whose angles can be varied toward the neck portion 477. The base 474 is provided with an inner diameter having the same or smaller dimension than the edge of the neck portion 477. The hexagonal panels 475 are aligned in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container 478. at least in the transverse direction, aligned so that each panel 475 will be arched to allow folding axially as a result but at the same time resisted circumferential expansion due to internal pressure.

Referring now to Figs. 15a, b, c, the following assembly is generally indicated by arrow 492. It can be seen that this assembly has a downwardly frustoconical bending portion 488 that is defined by a network of panels 420 having diamond shape. Such an arrangement of the upwardly bent control portion 488 allows for more complete emptying of the package during folding. No air can remain between the folding walls, as is the case with vertical designs. Said network of arched stretching forces and maintains the bending panels 420 resists a portion 488 in the respective panels 420 beginning to affect the position. Of course, the dimensions of these panels 420 may vary. They may be wider on some packages than on others and may even be of different sizes on the same package. After the plug has been released, the net 488 is no longer affected by the fluid pressure. Such a force would normally seek to induce the movement of each individual panel 420 of the network 488 in both the horizontal and vertical directions. However, since this force is equal in both directions when the plug is tightened, the diamond-shaped panel 488 cannot move. When the plug is released, there is no force in either direction. In this case, when the plug is released, the container operator may, at his discretion, apply pressure in one direction (downward as shown in Figure 15b to fold the container). Since the force is guided in only one direction, the panels 420 of the network 488 may be forced to relax vertically, but the circuit by supplying

487 excess material. This circumferential overlap of fold 487 is achieved by moving over base 490 and thereby controlling the folding process of the wrapper in the manner already described above.

In accordance with this and other embodiments, other versions of the invention may employ more than one bending control portion.

Referring to Fig. 16, the package 800 in this configuration has a bending portion 802 provided with diamond-shaped domed panels 801, generally forming a truncated cone tapering upward as opposed to the downwardly tapering shown in the preceding Figs.

Returning to the base of the containers of the present invention again, we find a further improvement in that the material distribution of the entire base is more even. The inwardly facing surface 480 of the base 483 in FIG. 17 is formed to form a curved circle on the central pillar 481 of relatively unstretched material around the cavity 479. By placing the unstretched material in such a shape, it is capable of inherent resistance to compression and thus to rupture. Not only does the actual support under pressure arise, but also pushing down to the bottom becomes practically impossible in the case of this type of packaging, in contrast to the frequent deformation of the bases in the style of champagne bottles made of materials which apply for example facing inwards.

Alternative embodiments of the base of the present invention may be provided with arched panels configured to withstand folding forces as already described with reference to the example of the invention shown in Fig. 17. Likewise, domed panels help to fold the material in one direction when facing in the direction of the panels that tend to fold. By applying them to the central pillar 481 of Fig. 17, any tendency forced to decrease and such a thin convex dome to be folded under folding due to the pressure base is significantly reduced.

Giant. 18 shows another example of a base 483 applying such arched panels 486 around the hollow pillar 485 of the cavity 484 to increase pressure resistance. Other panel configurations may also be applied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Still other alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize an inverted folding motion instead of the reverse downward folding process. The package of the present invention could have a bending portion provided with an inverting actuating portion and an inverting control portion. Diamond-shaped panels or otherwise shaped in such assemblies would point inwardly and not outwardly.

Obviously, the present invention, in its various configurations, provides a package having different portions equipped with the ability to adapt to different loads and whose folding is achieved by bending the central portion and not by pushing one end inward.

In this sense, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved package equipped with controlled gradual bending of its side walls so that they fold in a collapsible manner, wherein, in preferred embodiments, the package is provided with a base capable of withstanding higher pressures and providing increased stability.

Where references have been made to specific components or compositions of the invention having known equivalents, these equivalents have been used herein or have been individually explained.

While the present invention has been explained by way of example description and with reference to possible embodiments, it is understood that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope or idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

A semi-reinforced, sealable package, characterized in that its side wall has a plurality of panel means provided with a plurality of panel means, each of which means vaulted at least transversely to the longitudinal axis of the package, the wall being disposed so that the means act together to expand said folding state but with the possibility of folding direction in relation to said side panel to resist the folded portion of the folded portion due to the longitudinal folding force to gradually fold it into the rest of the wrapper in order to reduce internal volume. 2. Semi-reinforced sealable packaging according to point 1, confess In that said folding portion has a generally frustoconical shape and said panel means are also arched in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the package and prevent said folding pressure from being expanded within the package. with parts effect 3. The semi-reinforced sealable package of claim 1, wherein each of said panel means has a polygonal shape, the axis of which is completely parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package. 4. The semi-reinforced sealable package of claim 3, wherein each panel is diamond-shaped, its major axis being oriented completely parallel to the longitudinal axis of the package. the packaging referred to in point 3, the said that consist of so as to be separate from the package. from the growing area The semi-reinforced closable hinged bending portion is provided with throats and base regions 6. The semi-reinforced sealable container of claim 2 wherein said frustoconical shape tapers inwardly towards said neck portion of said package, such that said neck portion moves toward said base region of said package by virtue of said folding force. 7. The sealed reclosable package of claim 5, wherein the inner diameter of said throat section is generally equal to or greater than the inner diameter of said base region, so that in the composition conditions explained, the remaining contents of said base section may be discharged into said throat section. 8. The sealable reclosable package of claim 2 wherein said frustoconical shape tapers inwardly toward the base region of said package such that when folded, said base region moves inwardly of said folding bending portion toward said neck portion of said package. 9. The semi-reinforced sealable container of claim 1, wherein said folding bending portion comprises an activation portion having one or more zones to facilitate folding itself. 10. The semi-reinforced sealable package of claim 7, wherein said actuating portion is provided with said panel means. 11. The semi-reinforced sealable container of claim 4, wherein the triangular panels placed in relation to each other form said diamond shape. 12. The semi-reinforced sealable package of claim 1 wherein each of said panels is substantially circular in shape. 13. The sealed container of claim 1 comprising a base region having a hollow, substantially deep central portion and an annular portion formed therebetween that provides a stable support of the package standing on a certain surface. 14. The semi-reinforced sealable container of claim 10, wherein said deep hollow portion comprises a plurality of arched panels to prevent otherwise possible bending of said base region under the pressure exerted within said container. 15. A general description of the semi-reinforced sealable package with reference to Figures 1 to 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 to 10, Figure 11 to 13, Figure 14., Figure 15, Figure 16, Figure 15. 17 or 18, or FIGS. 19a or 19b of the accompanying drawings.